Implement for driving staples, fasteners, and the like



May 14, 1935- J. F. CAVANAGH IMPLEMENT FOR DRIVING STAPLES, FASTENERS, AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1932 y 1935- J. F. CAVANAGH 2,001,092

, FASTENERS, AND THE LIKE IMPLEMENT FOR DRIVING STAPLES Filed June 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IBIPLEMENT FOR DRIVING STAPLES, FASTENERS, AND THE LIKE Application June 8, 1932, Serial No. 616,065

21 Claims.

This invention relates to stapling devices for feeding and driving wire staples. double-pointed tacks or other types of fasteners, and particularly to an implement adapted to be operated in the manner of a hammer to drive the staples, tacks 4 or the like into packing cases in attaching tags or labels thereto and for various other purposes such as tacking window shades to rollers and fastening matting or carpet to floors.

One object of the invention is to provide a device or appliance of the type specified which may be conveniently wielded inthe hand to cause it to operate automatically to feed and drive the staples or other fasteners into place when a blow is struck against the object into which they are to be driven.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified which requires very little effort or energy on the part of the opera- 20 tor in driving a staple or fastener into the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified having impact-operated meam for positively and completely driving the staples upon contact of the hammer with the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide for replenishing the supply of staples in the magazine by entering them through an opening in the head of the implement.

Another object of the invention is to provide conveniently-operated closure means on the head for retaining the staples in place in the magazine.

Another object of the invention is to provide for automatically locking the staple-feeding means against operation when the closure means on the head is open.

Another object of the invention is to render the device more convenient of operation, more efficient in use and proof against derangement or getting out of order.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the device, by way of example, as illustratedby the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is aside view of the improved implement or tacker constructed in accordance with a preferred form of the invention, the various parts being shown in normal position before the striker cf the staple-driving means encounters the work;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of .the implement showing the parts in position at the completion of the staple-driving operation;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the forward or head portion of the implement showing the parts positioned as when the tanker is removed from the work and the gate opened for replenishing the supply of staples in the magazine;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device; 5

Fig. 5 is a view of the head portion of the tacker illustrated in section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and showing the staple-driving mechanism enclosed therein;

Fig. 6 is a view of the handle portion ofthe 10 tacker shown in section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the construction of the magazine for the staples;

Fig. '7 is a view of the rearward end of the tacker handle shown in section on line 1-1 of Fig.1;

Fig. 8 is a view of the head portion of the tacker shown in section on line 88 of Fig. 1; and I Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the impact-block 2 for the hammer-head.

The present invention consists in general in providing a hammer-like stapling device or tacker having a magazine for holding a. supply of staples or other fasteners within its handle; means for automatically feeding the staples or fasteners into driving position in the hammerhead and a driver actuated positively by impact when a blow is struck to drive the staples or fasteners into the work. While the invention as herein illustrated and described is embodied in a device for feeding and driving substantially- U-shaped staples, it is to be understood that it may be modified in construction to feed and drive fasteners of other types such as tacks, brads, nails or the like. Therefore, in the following specification and claims the term staple is to be interpreted in a broad sense as applying to all forms of. fasteners and the like.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, in the embodiment of the invention as herein illustrated the hammer or tacker comprises an elongated, hollow handle 2, preferably constructed of opposite sheet-metal members 3 and 4 of channel-shape in cross-section. The channel-shaped members 3 and 4 are assembled with the edges of their respective upper and lower flanges 6 and I abutting toform a tubular structure of rectangular cross-section convenient to be grasped in the hand. Preferably, the handie 2 is enclosed within a closely fitting rubber sleeve 8 which serves as a hand-grip to prevent slipping and also to absorb the shock of the blows which the hammer delivers when in use. AS shown in Fig. 7, the rearward end of the handle 2 is closed by bending portions of the sides 3 and 4 inwardly to abut at 9 and a hollow guard or cap I I is fitted thereover and secured in place in the manner as later explained. Riveted through the side-member 3 is a stud l2 having an enlarged portion fitted between the two sides of the handle 2 and provided with an axial bore l3. The opposite side-member 4 and the side of I the cap H ar provided with holes for receiving the end of a shouldered stud or plunger-pin l5 resiliently engaged therewith by a spring l6 seated in the bore |3 of the stud l2. By forcing the plunger l5 inwardly against the pressure of its spring 3 the cap may be withdrawn to permit removal of the rubber grip 8 to provide for its replacement when worn.

At the forward end of the handle 2 is a hollow head I! of generally rectangular shape constructed by extending the sheet-metal side-members 3 and 4 upwardly and turning their forward portions l9 inwardly to abut their edges at 2|, see Fig. 4. Extending from the forward end of the head I! around each side-member 3 and 4 and downwardly toward the bottom thereof at the rear are sheet-metal straps or strengthening members 22, see Figs. 1 and 4. The strap-members 22 are welded or otherwise secured to the sides of the head to reinforce the sections thereof whereby to form a rigid lightweight casing.

The hollow handle 2 serves as a magazine for a supply of staples and extending longitudinally therewithin is a staple-core or trackway 26 across which the U-shaped staples s are straddled. The staple-core 26 consists of a channel-shaped sheetmetal strip riveted or otherwise fastened at its bottom wall to the lower flange 6 of the handle side member 3. Referring to Fig. 6, the lower flange 6 is wider at this point than the flange l of the side-member 4 to provide that the staplecore 26 may be riveted thereto at 21 midway between the sides of the handle. The parallel side-walls 28 of the core 26 extend upwardly to support the staples in straddled relation thereacross, being spaced away from the side-members 3 and 4 to provide clearance for the legs of the staples. Fastened to the inner surface of the side-member 3 is a channel-shaped sheet-metal insert-member 29, the lower flange 3| of which serves as a guide for holding the staples from riding up on the core 26. At its rearward end the insert 29 is provided with a hole for receiving the shank of the stud l2 and at its forward end its upper edge is shaped with a configuration as shown in Figs. 2.and 3 for the purpose as later explained. The upper flange 30 of the insertmember 29 forms a reinforcement underlying the upper flange 6 of the side-member 3 and projecting in under the edge of the opposite flange I on the side-member 4 to cooperate with the bottom of the core 26 in providing a rabbeted joint between the two parts of the handle.

At the bottom of the head I7 is a hardened block 32, shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 9, having its upper portion recessed along its sides at 33 to receive the sides of the staple-core 26 whereby to form a flush joint therewith. The block 32 is secured to the core 26 by means of a rivet 31 and arranged in alinement with the core to form a continuation thereof. The forward portion of the block 32 depends below the handle 2 and is formed at the rear with a recess 34 to receive the ends of the lower flanges 6 and 1 of the side-members 3 and 4 and a projecting length of the core bottom. Lateral abutments 36 project at either side of the depending portion of the block 32 flush with the exterior of the side-plates 3 and 4. When assembled as shown the block 32 forms a rigid unit with the head I! and the staple-core 26 and the impact of blows struck by the harmner-head is borne by the block 32 and distributed along the handle 2.

The staples s are slid forwardly on the core 26 to feed them to the driving mechanism by means of a staple-pusher 4|, see Figs. 2 and 3. The staple-pusher 4| is preferably of inverted troughshape arranged with its sides straddling the sides of the core 26 to adapt it to slide thereon as shown in Fig. 6. Projecting upwardly at the rearward end of the pusher 4| is a hook 42 to which is attached the slotted end of a spring 43 coiled within the hollow head H. The spring 43 is preferably in the form of a flat ribbon of tempered steel wound into a volute coil 44 which is supported on a spool 45. A stud or pin 48 extends through the axial opening in the barrel of the spool 45 with its head held in a hole in the insert-member 29 on the inside of the head H. The end of the spring 43 is inserted through a slit 5| in the barrel of the spool 45 and hooked around the stud 48 to anchor it thereto. One of the spool heads has a pair of opposite depressions 52 adapted to be engaged by a suitable pin or a spanner wrench to turn the spool in a contraclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, to wind the spring 43 onto its barrel to adjust it to the desired tension. 0n the opposite side of the spool 45 is a triangular projection 53 struck up from the edge of a slot in its head and adapted to engage the edge of the side-wall of the insertstrip or member 29. The ear 53 slides over the upper curved edge 54 of the insert-member 29, when the spool 45 is being rotated to wind up the spring 43, and engages therewith in ratchet fashion to prevent retrogressive turning of the spool under the tension of the spring. The spool 45 is held on the mandrel 48 with the detentfinger 53 engaged with the edge 54 of the insertmember 29 by the side-member 4 when the two members 3 and 4 are assembled to form the handle and head of the hammer or tacker. The staple-pusher 4| is provided with an upstanding finger 46 adapted to engage an angular stopfinger 41 projecting inwardly from the sidemember 4, see Fig. 8, to limitv the forward sliding movement of the pusher on the staple-core 26.

Above the forward end of the staple-core 25 is a transverse stud 6| fast in the insert-member 29. A pawl 62 pivoted on-the stud 6| has a pointed toe extending rearwardlyalongside the guide-flange 3| to adapt it to engage the edges of the crossbars or heads of the staples s on the core. The pawl 62 has a laterally extending lug 63 projecting through a slot 12 in the side-member 4, see Fig. 1, in position to be engaged by a gate which closes the forward end of the staple magazine. A spring 64 coiled around the hub of the pawl 62 with 1% end hooked over the edge of its toe-portion has its opposite end held under the end of an inclined lip or flange 66 bent over from the edge of the insert-member 29. Under action of the spring 64 the pawl 62 engages the staples to prevent them from being propelled forward by the staple-pusher 4| when the supply is being replenished through the opening at the forward end of the magazine. The pawl 62 is released from the staples by the closing of the gate for the magazine in the manner as later explained.

At the forward end of the head II the sidemembers 3 and 4 are cut away to provide an opening II through which the staples may be inserted to load the magazine. A transverse stud I3 projects through the sides of the head II, being provided with peripheral grooves I4 at each end to engage with the opposite hooked arms I6 and II of a gate I8. The stud I3 pivotally supports the gate I8 as a closure means for the opening 1| and is in turn held in place by the arms I5 and II of the gate which clasp in its grooves I! to prevent the stud from shifting laterally in the head. The gate I8 is trough-shaped in cross section, the arms I6 and II extending'upwardly to hang the gate with its side walls enclosing the forward end of the block 32 and the edges of the walls engaging the lateral shoulders 36 thereof when the gate is closed. In this-position the end wall of the gate I8 is spaced away from the end of the block 32 to provide a guideway for the staple being driven. The upper edges of the hooked arms I6 and I1 define right-angles to form opposed inclined faces I9 and I adapted to contact with the end of relatively still springs 84, one on each side of the head II. At the top of the head I I is a transverse cylindrical stud 86 mounted in holes 80 drilled through the side-members 3 and 4 and having peripherally-grooved heads 81 at either end for holding the ends of the springs 84 which are of heavy tempered wire bent into angular shape. A similar stud 83 held in the side-members of the head II has a projecting peripherally grooved head at either end with which the mid portions of the springs 84 engage to hold them under tension with their free ends bearing against the edges I9 of the arms I5 and II on the gate I8. When the gate I8 is swung open the angular edges I9 of the arms I0 and I! act to pry the ends of the springs 84 upwardly and eventually cause them to seat against the edges M to hold the gate in open position as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The gate I8 may be closed by pressing it downwardly to pry the ends of the springs 84 upwardly until they finally seat on the edges I9 of the arms I5 and II.

The arm I6 of the gate I8 is formed with a shoulder 88 adapted to engage the finger or lug 63 on the pawl 62 whereby to lift the latter to release its toe from the staples when the gate is closed. As the gate I8 is swung away fromthe shoulders 36 on the block 32, in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 3, the shoulder 88 is drawn away from the lug 63 and the spring 64 carries the pawl 62 into engagement with the staples to prevent them from being expelled through the opening II by the pusher 4| under the tension of its spring 43.

The staple-driving mechanism of the device is constructed and arranged in the novel manner as next described. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, a block-like plunger or driver-member 9| is mounted for reciprocation between the side walls of the hammer-head II adjacent its front wall I9. The forward face of the driverblock 9| abuts the rearward side of the wall I9 of the head II and is recessed at 93 to receive a staple-driver 95 in the form of a rectangular blade. The staple-driver 95 may be riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the block 9| with its forward face flush with the upper face thereof. The staple-driver 95 is normally maintained in raised position, as shown in Fig. 1, with its lower edge above the top of the staples on the core 20, being adapted to be reciprocated across the forward end 92 of the block 32 abutting the inner face of the front wall of the gate I8 to drive the staples into the work. The driver 95 is further guided on its'rearward side by the end of the flange 3| on the insert-strip 29 and an ear or lug 96 bent over from the upper edge of the strip, see Fig. 2. The upper end of the driver- 'block Si, is slotted laterally on its rearward side at 91, the slot having its opposite sides shaped to the form of gear-teeth for a purpose as later explained.

The plunger or driver-:block 9| is actuated to reciprocate the staple-driver 95 through the means of the lever, shaped to the form of a gear-tooth,

engages within the slot 91 in the top of the block.

Through this connection the rocking of the lever I00 will cause the block 9! to slide up and down in the hammer-head I! while maintaining it pressed against the forward wall I9 of the head.

A flat, leaf spring I03, positioned at the rearward end of the hammer-head I I, tends to rock the lever I00 upwardly to maintain the driverblock 9| and the connected staple-driver 95 nor mally in raised position as shown in Fig. 3. The spring I03 is of generally arcuate shape in side view with its rearward end bent into a hook I04 and engaged under the end of the upper flange of the channel-strip 29 which is secured to the inner face of the side wall 3 of the handle 2. The opposite end of the spring I03 extends across the rearward curved portion of the lever I00 and is hooked around a pin I05 which is driven through the sides of the lever and pocketed in a recess I06 in the top thereof, see Fig. 3.

Preferably the lever I00 is of laminated construction comprising a plurality of sheet-metal stampings of the same contour riveted together with their sides abutting, the recess I06 being formed by cutting away the central plates held between the outer ones. The lever I00 is formed with a portion I 01 depending below its pivotal axis and provided with a shoulder I08 adapted to engage the side of a lug I99 to limit the upward movement of the lever under the action of its spring I 03. The stop-lug I09 is bent over from the upper edge of the channel-strip 29, the side of the strip being cut away rearwardly of the lug to provide clearance for the swinging movement of the lever I 00. The lever I00 is limited in its movement in the opposite direction, that is downwardly, as regards its forward portion, by the inclined flange 66 at the forward end of the strip 29, the flange constituting a stop-ledge against which the bottom edge of the lever strikes at the completion of its downward stroke. The driveractuating lever I 90 is operated through connection with a striker-element I I0 constructed in the form' of double-sided bell-crank lever shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 8.

The striker IIO may be constructed from a sheet-metal stamping bent double to form opposite side arms III connected by a forward endstrip H2. The lower edges of the ends of the arms III are arcuately shaped at H3 to adapt them to conform to the surface with which the striker contacts in substantially any position of inclination that the tacker or hammer may be held in relation to the work. The arms I II of the striker-member III) straddle the sides of the head ll of the hammer and are pivoted on studs H4 riveted therethrough to project laterally therefrom.

The shorter arms II5 of the striker-lever IIII reach upwardly for connection with the driveractuating lever I00. The upper ends of the arms II5 are slotted at I I6 to adapt them to engage with the slotted sides In of a pin oristud I20 which is held rotatively in a hole in the lever I00 with its ends projecting laterally therefrom. The ends of the stud I20 project through elongated apertures I2I in the sides of the hammer-head I! and the overlying reinforcing straps 22. The apertures I2I are connected with the holes in the sides of the head in which the stud 86 is recelved by vertical slots I22. This construction provides for assembling the parts in the manner as later explained. It will be apparent that when the forward end of the striker H0 is rocked upwardly under the impact of a blow struck thereby against the work, indicated at W in Fig. 2, the striker will be rocked to oscillate the actuating lever I00 whereby to slide the driver-block 9| and the driver downwardly to drive the staple s into the work. I

The driver-actuating lever I00 and the strikerlever I I0 with their connected parts are assembled within the head I! in the manner as next explained. The striker III] is first placed in position by springing its arms outwardly and engaging their holes with the fixed pivot-studs II4 on the sides of the head H. The lever I00 and the driver-block SI are inserted in place in the interior of the head with the tooth I02 on the lever engaging the slot 91 in the block and the lower pivot-hole in the portion I01 of the lever alining with the upper holes 80 in the sides of the head. The pin or stud I20 is then inserted through one of the holes 80 and engaged with its bearing hole in the lever I00; after which the lever I00 is moved downwardly to carry the slotted ends of the stud I20 through the slots I22 in the side-plates 3 and 4 to engage them in the slots I I6 of the arms II5 of the striker I ID. The lever I 00 is next pivotally secured in place by inserting its pivot stud 86 through the holes 80 in the sides of the head I1 and the upper hole in the lever.

The spring I03 is assembled with the lever I00 when the latter is placed in the head H with its upper end hooked under the pin I 05 and its opposite lower end I04 engaged under the flange on the channel-member 29. After the above parts have been placed in position in the manner explained the gate I0 is attached to the front of the head by hooking its arms I6 and 11 around the ends of the grooved pivot-stud I3. The springs 84 are next placed in position on the opposite sides of the head with their bent portions hooked around the ends of the stud 83, the forward ends of the springs being engaged against the edges I9 of the arms I6 and ll of the gate 18 and their rearward ends inserted in the grooves at the ends of the stud 86. This engagement of the springs with the ends of the stud 86 holds the latter in place in the hammer-head as shown most clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Having now explained the construction and method of assembling the present improved implement or tacker its method of operation will next be explained.

To prepare the implement for operation the gate I8 at the forward end of its head I1 is swung upwardly to be held open by the springs 84 in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 3, and the staples s may then be entered into the magazine through the opening 'II. Usually, the staplesare put up in stick form so that they may be conveniently slid onto the staple-core 26 as a unit to load the magazine conveniently and expeditiously. As the staples are pushed onto the core 26 they slide under the toe of the pawl 62 and force the staplepusher 4| rearwardly along the magazine against the action of its spring 43. After the staples have been placed in the magazine the pawl 62 engages with the edge of the appropriate staple in the series to hold them in place until the gate 16 is closed. It will be understood, of course, that while all of the staples are connected together in the stick their heads are separately defined by laterally extending edges capable of being engaged by the toe of the pawl 62. The gate 18 is closed by swinging it down against the block 32 and at this juncture the shoulder 88 on its side engages the lug 63 on the pawl 62 to raise the pointed toe of the latter whereby to release the staples to permit the staple-pusher II to feed them forwardly on the core 26. The foremost staple in the stick" is thus projected beyond the end of the block 32 to bring up against the front wall of the gate I8 where it is held in position beneath the lower edge of the staple-driver 95.

To apply the staples to the work the operator grasps the handle 2 of the implement adjacent its rearward end and strikes a sharp blow with its head. Under this action the striker-lever I I0 is caused to make impact against the surface into which the staple is to be driven at the desired location thereon. The impact of the strikerlever forcibly swings its forward end upwardly with a rapid motion, thereby causing its shorter arms H5 to act through the stud I20 to rock the driver-actuating lever I00 downwardly.

As the forward end of the lever I 00 swings downwardly its gear-tooth I02 engaged with the slot 91 in the driver-block 9| carries the latter downwardly whereby to efiect the descent of the staple-driver 95. The staple-driver 9515 thus slid downwardly with its lower edge impinging against the top of the foremost staple held between the end of the block 32 and the forward wall of the gate I8. This action severs the staple from the strip or stick in which it is incorporated and drives it down into the work with a. quick action as the staple-driver 95 is reeiprocated across the end of the block 32. The upward movement of the striker-lever H0 in its action to carry the staple-driver 95 downwardly is culminated as the block 32 brings up against the work under the momentum caused by the force of the blow. The staple is thus driven into the work with its head forced snugly against the article being attached, for example, the tag or label or a shade being fastened to a roller or matting tacked to a floor.

It will be noted that the leverage of the striker IIO on the lever I00 is such as to cause a rapid movement of the staple-driver 95 in its descent, the force exerted by the striker-lever being augmented by the weight of the lever and the momentum of the parts. The proportion of the leverage is such that the force of the impact against the striker lever is multiplied through the lever I00 to the driver-block 9 I.

As the force of the blow is expended the hammer-head recoils from the work and the spring I 03 acts to rock the actuating lever I00 to raise the block 9| to withdraw the staple-driver 95 upwardly across the front of the block 32. As the staple-driver 95 is retracted the striker-lever H0 is swung down into normal position below the bottom of the block 32 to return the parts to position for another operation. At this juncture the staple-pusher 4| functions under the action of its spring 43 to push the whole series of staples forward on the core 26 to feed the foremost staple into the position beneath the driver to be driven at the next operation. In this way the tacker may beoperated continuously in the manner as explained to feed and drive the staples successively as long as a supply thereof remains in the magazine. a

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a particularly simple and reliable stapling device or tacker of the hammer-type for inserting a staple or other fastener into the work at each blow with a minimum of effort required for the operation.

The gate on the head of the tacker provides for opening the magazine for inspection or reloading by a simple manual operation and the pawl 62 cooperating automatically therewith retains the staples in place when the gate is open to prevent them from being violently expelled at risk of physical injury to the operator.

The mechanism of the device is designed particularly for economy in manufacture while at the same time being strong and durable to resist wear and prevent derangement of the parts.

While the present improved device has been herein shown-and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In an implement for driving staples or the like, a handle, a head at one end thereof, stapledriving means on the head, a lever movable by impact with the work and a second lever actuated by the first lever to positively actuate the staple-driving means.

2. In an implement for driving staples or the like, a handle, a head on the handle, staple-driving means on the head, means movable by impact with the work, and a rockable lever connected thereto to positively actuate the staple-driving means as the head approaches the work.

3. In a device of the type specified, a handle, a head at one end thereof, staple-driving means on the head, a striker pivoted with respect to the head and movable by impact with the work, and a lever actuated by the striker to operate the staple-driving means to drive the, staples into the work.

4. In a device of the type specified, a handle, a head thereon, meansrmovable on the head for driving staples, a striker pivoted with respect to the head to adapt it to be moved by impact with the work and a lever pivoted to the head and actuated by the striker to operate the staple-driving means.

5. In a device of the type specified, a handle, a head. thereon, staple-driving means on the head, a striker pivotedon the head, and a lever actuated from the striker to operate the stapledriving means.

6. In a hammer-type implement for driving staples or the like, ahandle, a head at one end thereof, a staple-driver reciprocable on the head, a rockable lever for reciprocating the stapledriver, and a striker movable by impact with the work and connected to actuate'the staple-driver lever.

. 7. Staple-driving mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple-driver, a rockable lever connected to reciprocate the driver, and a striker adapted to be moved by contact with the work to actuate the lever to reciprocate the staple-driver.

8. In a staple-driving mechanism, the combination of a reciprocable staple-driver, a bellcrank lever connected to", reciprocate the driver,- and a second bell-crank lever having one arm connected to an arm of the first bell-crank lever to actuate the latter to reciprocate the stapledriver when the opposite arm of said second lever makes contact with the work.

9'. Staple-driving mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple-driver formed with a slot, a bell-crank lever having a gear-tooth engaging the slot in the reciprocable staple-driver, and a twoarmed striker-lever having one arm connected to actuate the bell-crank lever and its opposite arm adapted to make contact with the work.

10. A staple-driving mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple-driver, a bell-crank lever connected to reciprocate the staple-driver, a twoarmed striker-lever having one arm connected to operate the bell-crank lever and its opposite arm adapted to make contact with the work, and means i or returning the parts to initial position after operation of the staple-driver.

11. An implement for driving staples or the like comprising a handle forming a magazine for a supply of staples, a head at the end of said handle, a staple-driver reciprocable on the head, means for successively feeding staples from the magazine into position beneath the staple-driver, a lever connected to reciprocate the staple-driver, and a second lever pivoted on the head to adapt it to be moved by impact with the work and connected to actuate the bell-crank lever to reciprocate the staple-driver.

12. In an implement for applying staples or the like, the combination of staple-driving means, a magazine for holding a supply of staples, means for feeding the staples in the magazine to deliver them successively to the staple-driving means, a closure for the staple magazine arranged to locate the staples in driving position, and means operated by the opening of the closure to prevent the feeding of the staples.

13. In an implement for applying staples or the like, the combination of means for driving the staples, a magazine for holding a supply of staples, means for sliding the staples in the magazine to feed them to the driving means, a gate for closing the magazine, and means operated by the opening of the gate to prevent the sliding movement of the staples in the magazine.

14. In an implement for applying staples or the like, the combination of staple-driving means, a

magazine for containing a supply of staples, a

staple-pusher for feeding the staples in the magazine to deliver them successively to the work, re-

silient means for operating the staple-pusher,

means engageable with the staples to prevent gage the staples to prevent them from feeding in the magazine, and means operative by the closing of the gate to release the pawl from the staples.

16. In a stapling device, the combination of staple-driving means, a magazine for containing a supply of staples, means for feeding the staples from the magazine to the staple-driving means, a gate for closing the magazine, and means normally held inoperative by the gate and adapted to be released by the opening thereof to cause said means to engage the staples to prevent them from being ejected from the magazine.

17. In an implement for applying staples or the like, the combination of staple-driving means, a magazine for containing a supply of staples, a gate at the end of the magazine, means for feeding the staples forwardly in the magazine to deliver the foremost one to the staple-driving means, a pawl for engaging the staples to prevent them from feeding, a spring for operating the pawl, and means engageable by the closing of the gate to release the pawl.

18. In an implement for applying staples or the like, the combination of staple-driving means, a magazine for holding a supply of staples, means for feeding the staples in the magazine to deliver them successively to the staple-driving means, a gate pivoted to adapt it to swing into position to close the end of the magazine, said gate formed with opposite angular faces, and a spring adapted to engage with said opposite faces on the gate to hold the latter in either open or closed position.

19. In an implement for applying fasteners or the like, the combination of a magazine for containing a supply of fasteners, means reciprocable across the end of the magazine to apply the fasteners to the work, a closure for closing the end of the magazine, means for feeding the fasteners forwardly in the magazine to successively deliver them to the applying means, and means automatically operative upon the opening of the closure to prevent the fasteners from being ejected from the magazine.

20. In an implement of the type specified, the combination of a magazine for containing fasteners, said magazine being open at one end for receiving a supply of the fasteners, means reciprocable across the open end of the magazine to apply the fasteners to the work, means for feeding the fasteners in the magazine to successively deliver them to the applying means, a closure for closing the end of the magazine to prevent the fasteners from feeding beyond the applying means, and means operative upon the opening of the closure to prevent the fasteners being ejected from the magazine under the action of the feeding means.

21. In an implement of the type specified, the combination of a magazine for containing a supply of fasteners, means for applying the fasteners to the work, means slidable in the magazine for feeding the fasteners to the applying means, a closure normally positioned across the end of the magazine to prevent the fasteners from being fed beyond the applying means and adapted to be opened to, provide for loading the magazine with fasteners, and means operative upon the opening of the closure to prevent the fasteners being ejected from the magazine by the feeding means.

JOHN F. CAVANAGH. 

